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School of Medicine

Professor Daniel Brison PhD, FRCPath

Photograph of Daniel Brison

Honorary Professor of Clinical Embryology and Stem Cell Biology; Scientific Director of the Department of Reproductive Medicine; and Co-Director NW Embryonic Stem Cell Centre (NWESCC)

Department of Reproductive Medicine
Old St Mary's Hospital
Central Manchester and Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9WL

 

Role

I am a Consultant Clinical Scientist in the NHS and Scientific Director of the clinical Department of Reproductive Medicine, which offers infertility treatment services to the North West of England.  I have managerial responsibilities for the clinical department, and am directly responsible for the Andrology and Embryology laboratories.  I hold the post of Person Responsible to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for research licences in embryo research (licence R0026) and embryonic stem cells (R0171).  I co-direct (with Professor Sue Kimber) the NW Embryonic Stem Cell Centre (NWESCC) based in the Central Manchester Trust and the University of Manchester.

I am a member of the British Fertility Society Executive committee, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee, and vice-chair of the UK Clinical Embryonic Stem Cells Forum.  I am regional tutor for the NW region in Clinical Embryology training. 

 

Memberships of Committees and Professional Bodies

Professional advisory or consultancy work

  • NovoCellus Ltd. University of York spinout. Consultant to and minor shareholder with NovoCellus Ltd. on development of embryo amino acid profiling technology
  • Co-opted expert on Embryology for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee (SCAAC) (2005 - present)

Offices held

  • Elected member of the General Council of the Society for the Study of Reproduction (2002 - 2004)
  • Co-opted embryology expert to HFEA committee on Safety and New Technology (SANT) (2004 - 2005)
  • Reproductive scientist member of the British Fertility Society Executive committee (2005 - present)
  • Regional tutor for the NW region in clinical embryology training (2008 - present)
  • Examiner in embryology for the Royal College of Pathologists (2009 - present)
  • Vice-chair of the UK Clinical Embryonic Stem Cells Forum (2010 - present)
  • Editorial Board member for the journals Human Fertility and Reproduction
     

Research

Research aims

  • Understanding early human embryo development by means of:
    • Gene expression profiling using Q-PCR and affymetrix microarray screening of single cell cDNAs
    • Regulation of cell fate by transcription factors
    • Regulation of apoptosis
    • Metabolomics of early embryo development using InfraRed spectroscopy (with Roy Goodacre, University of Manchester)
    • Amino acid turnover (with Henry Leese, University of York)
    • Statistical modelling of single embryo transfer in IVF (Steve Roberts, University of Manchester)
    • Developmental competence of oocytes and embryos from cryopreserved ovarian tissue
  • Stem cell research
    • Generation of clinical grade embryonic stem cells suitable for clinical transplantation
    • Development of clinical grade laboratory facilities for IVF (St Mary's Hospital) and stem cells (Core Technology Facility building, University of Manchester)
    • Regulation of stem cell pluripotency eg by PI3K pathway
    • Genetic manipulation of ES cells, differentiation to chondrocytes and insulin-producing cells
 

Teaching

Current teaching duties

  • Medical student SSCs: 2/3 per year
  • Medical student 4th/5th year research options: 1/2 per year
  • Biology research students (1 per year, with Professor SJ Kimber)
  • Biology placement students (2 total supervised/hosted)

I have recently taught on the following MSc courses:

  • Clinical Embryology, University of the Danube, Krems, Austria
  • Clinical Embryology (distance learning), University of Leeds, UK
  • Med Sci. ART, University of Nottingham, UK

Subspeciality training: I am a tutor on the subspecialty training programme in Reproductive Medicine under the auspices of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

I am an examiner in Embryology for the Royal College of Pathologists.

 

Biography

Previous posts

  • Research Student (1989 - 1992)
    Dr HJ Leese, University of York
    Funded by MRC
  • Post-doctoral Research Fellow (1992 - 1993)
    Dr HJ Leese, University of York
    Funded by Journal of Reproduction and Fertility
  • Post-doctoral Research Fellow (1993 - 1997)
    Dr RM Schultz, Department of Biology
    University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
    Funded by NIH

Present appointments

  • Scientific Director (1997 -present)
    Department of Reproductive Medicine, St Mary's Hospital
    Central Manchester and Manchester
    University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT)
  • Consultant Clinical Scientist (1997 - present)
    Department of Reproductive Medicine, St Mary's Hospital
    Central Manchester and Manchester
    University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT)
  • Co-Director (2006 - present)
    NW Embryonic Stem Cell Centre (NWESCC)
  • Professor (hon) of Clinical Embryology and Stem Cell Biology (2009 - present)
    Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester
 

Qualifications

Academic

  • BSc (Hons), University of London, UK. Class 2:1 (1983)
  • PhD, University of York (1992)
  • FRCPath, Royal College of Pathologists (2009)

Professional

  • Association of Clinical Embryologists Certificate in Clinical Embryology (hon)
  • State Registration as a Clinical Embryologist with Healthcare Professions Council (CS00267)
 

Selected publications

2011

  • Alpha Scientists in Reproductive Medicine and ESHRE Special Interest Group of Embryology: Balaban, Brison et al. (2011). The Istanbul consensus workshop on embryo assessment: proceedings of an expert meeting. Human Reproduction, 26(6), 1270-1283. eScholarID:125607 | DOI:10.1093/humrep/der037
  • Hirst MW, Vail A, Brison DR, Roberts SA. (2011). Prognostic factors influencing fresh and frozen IVF outcomes: an analysis of the UK national database. Reproductive Biomedicine Online, eScholarID:125648
  • Murdoch A, Braude P, Stacey G, Courtney, A, Lawford Davies J, Brison D, Hunt C, Moore H, Sethe S, for the Procurement Working Group of the National Clinical hESc Forum. (2011). The procurement of cells for the derivation of human embryonic stem cell lines for therapeutic use: recommendations for good practice. Stem Cell Reviews and Reports, eScholarID:125605
  • Roberts SA, McGowan L, Hirst MW, Vail A, Rutherford A, Lieberman BA, Brison DR; towardSET Collaboration. (2011). Reducing the incidence of twins from IVF treatments: predictive modelling from a retrospective cohort. Human Reproduction, 26(3), 569-575. eScholarID:125647 | DOI:10.1093/humrep/deq352

2010

  • Camarasa, M., Kerr, R., Sneddon, S., Bates, N., Shaw, L., Oldershaw, R., Small, F., Baxter, M., Mckay, T., Brison, D. & Kimber, S (2010). Derivation of Man-1 and Man-2 research grade human embryonic stem cell lines. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim, 46(3-4), 386-394. eScholarID:91773 | PMID:20177994 | DOI:10.1007/s11626-010-9291-5
  • Oldershaw RA, Baxter MA, Lowe ET, Bates N, Grady LM, Soncin F, Brison DR, Hardingham TE, Kimber SJ. (2010). Directed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells toward chondrocytes. Nature Biotechnology, 28(11), 1187-1194. eScholarID:125649 | DOI:10.1038/nbt.1683
  • Roberts, S., Hirst, W., Brison, D. & Vail, A (2010). Embryo and uterine influences on IVF outcomes: an analysis of a UK multi-centre cohort. Hum Reprod, eScholarID:91770 | PMID:20813807 | DOI:10.1093/humrep/deq213
  • Roberts, S., McGowan, L., Hirst, W., Brison, D., Vail, A. & Lieberman, B (2010). Towards single embryo transfer? Modelling clinical outcomes of potential treatment choices using multiple data sources: predictive models and patient perspectives. Health Technol Assess, 14(38), 1-237. eScholarID:91771 | PMID:20684810 | DOI:10.3310/hta14380
  • Sneddon SF, De Sousa PA, Arnesen RE, Lieberman BA, Kimber SJ, Brison DR. (2010). Gene expression analysis of a new source of human oocytes and embryos for research and human embryonic stem cell derivation. Fertility and Sterility, in press(in press), eScholarID:91783
  • Stocks, S., Agius, R., Cooley, N., Harrison, K., Brison, D., Horne, G., Gibbs, A. & Povey, A (2010). Alkylation of sperm DNA is associated with male factor infertility and a reduction in the proportion of oocytes fertilised during assisted reproduction. Mutat Res, 698(1-2), 18-23. eScholarID:91772 | PMID:20307685 | DOI:10.1016/j.mrgentox.2010.02.019

2009

  • Camarasa, M., Brison, D., Kimber, S. & Handyside, A (2009). Naturally immortalised mouse embryonic fibroblast lines support human embryonic stem cell growth. Cloning Stem Cells, 11(3), 453-462. eScholarID:91774 | PMID:19594387 | DOI:10.1089/clo.2008.0082
  • De Sousa, P., Gardner, J., Sneddon, S., Pells, S., Tye, B., Dand, P., Collins, D., Stewart, K., Shaw, L., Przyborski, S., Cooke, M., McLaughlin, K., Kimber, S., Lieberman, B., Wilmut, I. & Brison, D (2009). Clinically failed eggs as a source of normal human embryo stem cells. Stem Cell Res, eScholarID:91775 | PMID:19393594 | DOI:10.1016/j.scr.2009.01.002
  • Roberts, S., Fitzgerald, C. & Brison, D (2009). Modelling the impact of single embryo transfer in a national health service IVF programme. Hum Reprod, 24(1), 122-131. eScholarID:91779 | PMID:18854404 | DOI:10.1093/humrep/den355
  • Vitthala S, Gelbaya TA, Brison DR, Fitzgerald CT, Nardo LG. (2009). The risk of monozygotic twins after assisted reproductive technology: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Human Reproduction Update, 15(1), 45-55. eScholarID:125650

2008

  • Brison, D (2008). Controversies in clinical embryology: embryo selection towards single embryo transfer - 16 July 2008, University of Manchester. Hum Fertil (Camb), 11(4), 263-264. eScholarID:91776 | PMID:19085264 | DOI:10.1080/14647270802563980
  • Hamilton, M., Pacey, A., Tomlinson, M., Brison, D., Shaw, L., Turner, C., Witjens, L., Morris, P., Brown, C., Montuschi, O., Adams, J., Lieberman, B. & Speirs, J (2008). Working Party on Sperm Donation Services in the UK: report and recommendations. Hum Fertil (Camb), 11(3), 147-158. eScholarID:91781 | PMID:18608525 | DOI:10.1080/14647270802170174
  • Kimber, S., Sneddon, S., Bloor, D., El-Bareg, A., Hawkhead, J., Metcalfe, A., Houghton, F., Leese, H., Rutherford, A., Lieberman, B. & Brison, D (2008). Expression of genes involved in early cell fate decisions in human embryos and their regulation by growth factors. Reproduction, 135(5), 635-647. eScholarID:91782 | PMID:18411410 | DOI:10.1530/REP-07-0359
  • Leese, H., Baumann, C., Brison, D., McEvoy, T. & Sturmey, R (2008). Metabolism of the viable mammalian embryo: quietness revisited. Mol Hum Reprod, 14(12), 667`-672. eScholarID:91777 | PMID:19019836 | DOI:10.1093/molehr/gan065
  • Sturmey, R., Brison, D. & Leese, H (2008). Symposium: innovative techniques in human embryo viability assessment. Assessing embryo viability by measurement of amino acid turnover. Reprod Biomed Online, 17(4), 486-496. eScholarID:91780 | PMID:18854101 | DOI:10.1016/S1472-6483(10)60234-9

2007

  • Brison DR, Hollywood K, Arnesen R, Goodacre R. (2007). Predicting human embryo viability: the road to non-invasive analysis of the secretome using metabolic footprinting. Reproductive Biomedicine Online, 15(3), eScholarID:1d17749
  • Roberts SA, Fitzgerald C, Brison DR. (2007). Modelling the impact of single embryo transfer in an NHS IVF programme: predictive models and the importance of embryo quality. Human Reproduction, eScholarID:1d27730
  • Stocks SJ, Harrison KL, Agius RM, Brison DR, Povey AC. (2007). Quantitation of N7-methyldeoxyguanosine levels in DNA extracted from the sperm of patients attending for infertility investigation. Toxicology 20, 240(3), 175-176. eScholarID:125651

2006

  • Gelbaya T, Nardo LL, Fitzgerald C, Horne G, Brison DR, Lieberman BB. (2006). Ovarian response to gonadotropins after laparoscopic salpingectomy or the division of fallopian tubes for hydrosalpinges. Fertility Sterility, 85(5), eScholarID:1d17739 | DOI:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.10.036
  • Gelbaya T, Nardo LL, Hunter H, Fitzgerald C, Horne G, Pease E, Brison DR, Lieberman BB. (2006). Cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer in natural or down-regulated hormonally controlled cycles: a retrospective study. Fertility Sterility, 85(3), eScholarID:1d17740 | DOI:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.09.015
  • Hollywood K, Brison DR, Goodacre R. (2006). Metabolomics: current technologies and future trends. Proteomics, 6(17), eScholarID:1d17748 | DOI:10.1002/pmic.200600106
  • Nardo L, Cheema P, Gelbaya T, Horne G, Fitzgerald C, Pease E, Brison DR, Lieberman B. (2006). The optimal length of 'coasting protocol' in women at risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome undergoing in vitro fertilization. Human Fertility (Cambridge), 9(3), eScholarID:1d17738 | DOI:10.1080/14647270600787575

2005

  • Brison, DR. (2005). Challenges imposed by scientific developments in ART. Human Fertility, 8, 93-96. eScholarID:125652

2004

  • Brison DR, Metcalfe AD, Bloor DJ, Hunter HR, Brady G, Kimber SJ. (2004). Analysis of apoptosis in the preimplantation embryo. A Laboratory Guide to the Mammalian Embryo (Eds Gardner DK, Lane M, Watson AJ). Oxford University Press. eScholarID:3d880
  • Brison DR, Houghton FD, Falconer D, Roberts SA, Hawkhead PG. (2004). Identification of viable embryos in IVF by non-invasive measurement of amino acid turnover. Human Reproduction, 19(10), eScholarID:1d26227
  • Brison DR, R Arnesen, JD Critchlow, MAK Hooper, HR Hunter, A Lloyd, G Horne. (2004). Reducing risk in the IVF laboratory. Clinical Risk, 10, eScholarID:1d14898
  • Brison DR. (2004). Focus on ART. Reproduction, 128(3), eScholarID:1d10802
  • Eyden B, Radford JA, Shalet SM, Thomas N, Brison DR, Lieberman B. (2004). Ultrastructural preservation of ovarian cortical tissue cryopreserved in dimethylsulfoxide for subsequent transplantation into young female cancer patients. Ultrastructural Pathology, 28(4), eScholarID:1d10801
  • Horne G, Atkinson A, Pease EHE, Logue J, Brison DR, Lieberman B. (2004). Live birth with sperm cryopreserved for 21 years prior to cancer treatment: case report. Human Reproduction, 19(6), eScholarID:1d10804
  • Metcalfe AD, Hunter H, Bloor D, Lieberman B, Picton H, Leese H, Kimber SJ, Brison DR. (2004). Expression of 11 members of the BCL-2 family of apoptosis regulatory molecules during human preimplantation embryo development and fragmentation. Molecular Reproduction and Development, 68(1), eScholarID:1d10806 | DOI:10.1002/mrd.20055

2003

  • Anjum ZK, Abdo K, Horne G, Brison DR, Abdulla U, Lieberman B. (2003). Transport of embryos resulting from intracytoplasmic sperm injection, but not oocytes, adversely affects implantation. Fertility and Sterility, 80, eScholarID:1d27533
  • Horne G, Farrell C, Pease EH, Brison DR, Falconer DA, Lieberman B. (2003). Waiting for in vitro fertilization treatment: spontaneous and ART live births. Human Fertility (Cambridge), 6(3), eScholarID:1d7508
  • Metcalfe AD, Bloor DJ, Lieberman B, Kimber SJ, Brison DR. (2003). Amplification of representative cDNA pools from single human oocytes and pronucleate embryos. Molecular and Reproductive Development, 65(1), eScholarID:1d7510
  • Brison DR, Lieberman B. (2003). An ethical way to provide more embryos for research. Bionews, eScholarID:17d780
  • Brison DR, Lieberman B. (2003). Mixed opinions on egg sharing. Lancet, 362(9394), eScholarID:17d881
  • Brison DR, Lieberman B. (2003). Use eggs, not embryos, to derive stem cells. British Medical Journal, 327, eScholarID:17d882

2002

  • Brison DR. (2002). Fertility preservation in cancer patients. eScholarID:2d1523
  • Blackhall FH, Atkinson AD, Maaya MB, Ryder WDJ, Horne, Brison DR, Lieberman B, Radford JA. (2002). Semen cryopreservation, utilisation and reproductive outcome in men treated for hodgkin’s disease. British Journal of Cancer, 87, eScholarID:1d3781
  • Bloor DJ, Metcalfe AD, Rutherford A, Brison DR, Kimber SJ. (2002). Expression of cell adhesion molecules during pre-implantation human embryo development. Human Reproduction, 8, eScholarID:1d3786
  • Byrne AT, Southgate J, Brison DR, Leese HJ. (2002). Effects of insulin-like growth factors I and II on tumour-necrosis-factor-alpha-induced apoptosis in early murine embryos. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 14(1-2), eScholarID:1d7512
  • Byrne AT, Southgate J, Brison DR, Leese HJ. (2002). Regulation of apoptosis in the bovine blastocyst by insulin and the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) superfamily. Molecular Reproduction and Development, 62(4), eScholarID:1d7511
  • Kamjoo M, Brison DR, Kimber SJ. (2002). Apoptosis in the preimplantation mouse embryo: effect of strain difference and in vitro culture. Molecular Reproduction and Development, 61(1), eScholarID:1d7514
  • Morris IID, Ilott S, Dixon L, Brison DR. (2002). The spectrum of DNA damage in human sperm assessed by single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay) and its relationship to fertilization and embryo development. Human Reproduction, 17, eScholarID:1d3784 | DOI:10.1093/humrep/17.4.990

2001

  • Horne G, Atkinson A, Brison DR, Radford JA, Yin JA, Edi-Osagie EC, Pease EH, Lieberman BB. (2001). Achieving pregnancy against the odds: successful implantation of frozen-thawed embryos generated by ICSI using spermatozoa banked prior to chemo/radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease and acute leukaemia. Hum Reprod, 16(1), eScholarID:1d7515
  • Radford, JA, Lieberman B, Brison, DR, Smith ARB, Critchlow JD, Russell SA, Watson AJ, Clayton JA, Harris M, Gosden RG, Shalet, SM. (2001). Orthotopic reimplantation of cryopreserved ovarian cortical strips after high-dose chemotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Lancet, 357, eScholarID:1d3136 | DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04335-X
  • Lieberman B, Falconer D, Brison DR. (2001). Presentation of in-vitro fertilisation results. Lancet, 3;357(9253), eScholarID:17d241

2000

  • Brison DR. (2000). Are blastocysts better?. eScholarID:2d2368
  • Brison DR. (2000). Fertility 2000: session reports. eScholarID:2d2546
  • Brison DR. (2000). Apoptosis in mammalian preimplantation embryos: Regulation by survival factors. Human Fertility, 3, eScholarID:1d28235 | DOI:10.1080/1464727002000198671
  • Oghoetuoma J, McKeating C, Horne G, Brison DR, Lieberman BB. (2000). Use of in-vitro fertilisation embryos cryopreserved for 5 years or more. Lancet, 355(9212), eScholarID:1d17741

1999

  • Byrne A, Southgate J, Brison DR, Leese H. (1999). Analysis of apoptosis in the preimplantation bovine embryo using TUNEL. Journal of Reproductive Fertility, 117(1), eScholarID:1d17736

1998

  • Brison DR, Schultz R. (1998). Increased incidence of apoptosis in transforming growth factor alpha-deficient mouse blastocysts. Biology of Reproduction, 59(1), eScholarID:1d17742

1997

  • Horne G, Critchlow JD, Falconer D, Newman MC, Oghoetuoma J, Brison DR. (1997). An ongoing prospective investigation comparing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using human serum albumin (HSA) compared with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to aid sperm immobilization and injection. eScholarID:2d2088
  • Brison DR, Schultz R. (1997). Apoptosis during mouse blastocyst formation: evidence for a role for survival factors including transforming growth factor alpha. Biology of Reproduction, 56(5), eScholarID:1d17743

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